A PARTICULARLY FINE WW2 SUBMARINERS D.S.M. GROUP AWARDED TO A MEMBER OF THE 4-INCH GUN CREW OF H.M.S. RORQUAL FOR HIS ACTIONS DURING A SURFACE FIREFIGHT IN THE ADRIATIC IN WHICH AN ARMED TUG WAS SUNK AND A FLOATING BATTERY DAMAGED

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL, G.VI.R. ‘J.99296 C. J. THOMAS. A.B. R.N.’ IMPRESSED NAMING; 1939-45 STAR; AFRICA STAR; DEFENCE AND WAR MEDALS; ROYAL NAVY L.S.& G.C., G.V.R. 3RD ISSUE, COINAGE HEAD ‘J.99296 C. J. THOMAS. A.B., H.M.S. ALECTO’. MOUNTED FOR WEAR.

D.S.M. London Gazette 29 July 1941.

The recommendation states: ‘For conspicuous good service during seven war patrols and for coolness and efficiency as trainer during a close-range gun action from submerged when an armed tug was sunk and a bombardment lighter mounting two medium calibre guns set on fire and damaged’.

Charles James Thomas was born in Perran Downs, Marazion, Cornwall on 31 July 1903. He entered the Service as a Boy 1st Class in 1920 and attained the rank of Able Seaman in 1923, during which time he served aboard the Hood and Caradoc. Thomas volunteered for the Submarine Service in 1927 and was posted to the submarine depot ship Dolphin for the first time in 1932. During the Second World War his Certificate of Service records service aboard the submarine depot ships Dolphin, Medway and Forth amongst others.

H.M.S. RORQUAL

Thomas service record shows he joined H.M.S. Rorqual on 29 October 1938, serving with this submarine under Captain Dewhurst at the outbreak of the war until May 1941. During his service as stated in his recommendation, Thomas was the Trainer on the submarines 4” MK.12 gun, the Trainer being the member of the guns crew who sat at the side of the gun controlling the direction of the gun onto target, whilst the Gun Layer controlled the elevation.

H.M.S. Rorqual, 1768 tons (surfaced) was launched in 1936, built by Vickers-Armstrong in Barrow-in-Furness and armed with six 21-inch torpedo tubes, carrying 12 torpedoes, one 4-inch gun and 50 mines. With guns, torpedoes and mines she was the 10th highest scoring British submarine of the Second World War, sinking over 45,000 tons of enemy shipping. The boat was broken up in 1946.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Rorqual_(N74)

Thomas was awarded the D.S.M. for his part in the action of 31 January 1941, which took place off the Yugoslav island of Kercula in the Adriatic. Whilst on patrol, the submarine Rorqual observed the Italian armed sea-going………….

SEE PDF FOR FULL WRITE-UP

Serving at H.M.S. Dolphin from July 1941, he joined H.M.S. Sealion in January 1942 and appears to have served with this submarine until March 1943. Thomas had attained the rank of Acting Leading Seaman in in August 1942 and was confirmed to that rank a year later. He was released from the service in October 1945.

Condition NEF. Ex DNW September 2002. Sold with:
1) The recipient’s original Certificate of Service
2) The recipient’s original Gunnery History Sheet
3) The recipient’s original Torpedo History Sheet
4) A submarine veteran blazer badge, signs of removal
5) An original newspaper cutting from the Daily Sketch, 22 May 1942, illustrating 12 submariners, Thomas included, who received the D.S.M. at an Investiture on 19 May 1942
6) A copy photograph of H.M. Rorqual and a Submarine service cap tally

Together with a quantity of copied research details, including the war service history of H.M.S. Rorqual, official recommendation for D.S.M. and conflicting British and Italian reports of the ‘D.S.M.’ action etc

A very fine gallantry group to a long service submariner who as the ships Gun Trainer would have seen a good deal of action.